Suspect In Arundel Mills Double Shooting Shot & Killed By Police

HANOVER, Md. (WJZ) — A violent end to the search for a killer. The man who murdered two people at Arundel Mills Mall was later shot and killed in a wild shootout with police.

Mike Hellgren has more on this deadly chain of events.

One big question that police are unable to answer is how the accused shooter acquired an AK-47. He was recently released from prison.

The brazen violence at Arundel Mills over the weekend has shaken shoppers and those who live and work nearby. Police say 22-year-old James Coleman, a man with a violent history, shot two people to death outside the popular Dave & Buster’s Restaurant.

“I do live in the community and it is very disturbing,” said one man.

Within hours, police tracked Coleman to a house in Prince George’s County where he came out with two weapons. He shot an officer in the face; that officer is expected to make a full recovery.

The exact relationship between him and those he’s accused of killing remains unclear, but police say it wasn’t random.

“Now that we know it wasn’t random, I’m not too scared but I don’t want to come here alone,” said one woman.

The violence comes just before the start of the holiday shopping season and as concerns are building over security with a new casino set to open in a few months. It’s expected to draw thousands of new customers to the area.

“It’s very frightening, especially with the upcoming holidays,” a woman said.

Police shot and killed Coleman after he shot that officer. The victims were 25 and 30. Both are from Prince George’s County.

In a statement, Arundel Mills representatives say they are working with police, and their thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.

Mike HellgrenWJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren came to WJZ in the spring of 2004 from KARK-TV, an NBC affiliate station in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he worked as a...More fromMike Hellgren